Margaret A. Hubbell

Margaret (Peggy) Alice Romick Hubbell

Margaret (Peggy) Alice Romick Hubbell, 99, Topeka, died peacefully on Thursday, June 16, 2016, at her home in Aldersgate Village.

Peggy was born January 3, 1917, in Wamego, Kansas, to Henry Joseph and Coral Jacobs Romick. She grew up on a ranch in the Black Forest, near Colorado Springs, Colorado. Peggy attended Lewis Consolidated High School in Monument, Colorado, graduating in 1933. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English with a Minor in Art in 1937 from Colorado College of Education (now University of Northern Colorado) in Greeley, Colorado. She did graduate work at Washburn University and Emporia State Teachers College, obtaining her Librarian Certificate.

Peggy married Melvin Earl Hubbell September 13, 1940, at the Presbyterian Church, Inglewood, California, and enjoyed 44 years of marriage prior to his death. They had been grade school and high school classmates. She was preceeded in death by her husband, Melvin, on October 4, 1984; a daughter, Karen Kay Grose, on May 25, 1997, and an older brother Henry Joseph Romick, Jr. on July 1, 1969.

She taught in Colorado, Texas, and at East Indianola in the Seaman District in Topeka. She left the classroom to serve as an Elementary Librarian for U.S.D. 501, retiring in 1979. After retiring she served as the librarian for the Topeka Lutheran School.

Peggy was a member of Northland Christian Church, Topeka Area Retired Teachers Association, Topeka Travelers Club, Topeka Civic Music Club, Topeka Opera Society Concert Association, Active Prime Timers and served on the Board of Directors for the Topeka Community Concert Association. She volunteered with Friends of the Topeka-Shawnee County Public Library, Topeka Rescue Mission and KTWU. Peggy received Honorable Mention in the Kansas Factual Story Contest of the Olive Ann Beech Memorial Awards for her entry "Long Steps" at the 2003 Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas banquet. She was an artist at heart, loving the theater, opera, music, and art. Her personal art projects, including many colored-pencil drawings, were often displayed at Aldersgate Village and gifted to family and friends. She received several awards for her art. One of her poems is provided below.

She is survived by her son Richard Steven Hubbell of Sedona, Arizona; daughter Bonnie Mel Devore of Manhattan, Kansas; sons-in-law John Jacob Devore of Manhattan, Kansas and David Lee Grose of Poulsbo, Washington; six grandchildren: Donovan Richard Grose of Hong Kong, China, Bryan Scott Devore of Denver, Colorado, Cory Christine Grose Dohrendorf (husband Reuben) of Washougal, Washington, Kevin John Devore (wife Lisa) of Denver, Colorado, Nolan Jacob Grose of La Paz, Mexico, and Casey Leigh Devore of Manhattan, Kansas, and three great-grandchildren: Hayden Dohrendorf, Gavin Dohrendorf, and Coen Devore.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 AM, Friday, June 24, 2016, at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, 245 NW Independence Avenue, Topeka. Interment will be in Rochester Cemetery, 1200 NW Menninger Road, Topeka. Peggy will lie in state from 3:00 to 8:30 PM, Thursday, at the funeral chapel.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Aldersgate Good Samaritan Fund, 7220 SW Asbury Drive, Topeka, KS 66614 or Northland Christian Church, 3102 NW Topeka Blvd., Topeka, KS 66617.

To share a memory of Peggy or to leave a special message of condolence, please visit the guestbook below.

My Necklace

I have a necklace
Of beautiful days
I've strung them one by one
Each beautiful day
Is a memory
That I treasured, and then it was gone.

And as the years go by,
When the dark days come
And they will come – I'm sure,
I will not be touched
By the darkness there,
For I have a magical cure.

I shall bring out my necklace
Of beautiful days,
Each sparkling on my strand,
And touch each one
Of these precious jewels
As I hold them in my hand.

Joy – like a glowing flood
Of light
Comes pouring into my heart.
My hand holds the kindness
And love from that day
Whose beauty had set it apart.

Time stops for me
As those joys return
That were given in such a dear way,
By someone who reached out
And shared with me –
A beautiful, beautiful day.

Peggy Hubbell 1992